Audio systems and apparatus for vibration isolation

Abstract

Vibration isolated audio systems and apparatus are provided. In one example, an audio system may include a housing, an acoustic transducer positioned within an aperture of the housing, the acoustic transducer being configured to deliver acoustic energy based on a received audio signal, and at least one tuned vibration isolator positioned proximate the acoustic transducer and configured to substantially reduce vibration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An audio system comprising:
 a housing; 
 an acoustic transducer positioned within an aperture of the housing, the acoustic transducer being configured to deliver acoustic energy based on a received audio signal, wherein the housing is configured to substantially seal the acoustic transducer within the housing to create an air stiffness within the housing, the acoustic transducer including:
 a diaphragm, 
 a motor structure coupled to the diaphragm and configured to displace the diaphragm to deliver acoustic energy, and 
 a frame positioned to support at least the motor structure and the diaphragm; and 
 
 at least one tuned vibration isolator positioned proximate the acoustic transducer and configured to substantially reduce a magnitude of a vibration, the tuned vibration isolator being defined by an isolator stiffness, wherein the isolator stiffness is based at least in part on a mass of the diaphragm, a mass of the frame, and the air stiffness within the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein in being positioned proximate the acoustic transducer, the at least one tuned vibration isolator is interposed between the frame and the housing. 
     
     
       3. The audio system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tuned vibration isolator includes a single tuned vibration isolator disposed continuously along a perimeter of the frame. 
     
     
       4. The audio system according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tuned vibration isolator includes a plurality of tuned vibration isolators each disposed along a perimeter of the frame. 
     
     
       5. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein the isolator stiffness is defined according to: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   k 
                   i 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     m 
                     b 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         k 
                         air 
                       
                       
                         m 
                         d 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         wherein, k i  includes the isolator stiffness, m b  includes the mass of the frame, k air  includes the air stiffness, and m d  includes the mass of the diaphragm. 
       
     
     
       6. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tuned vibration isolator is an air suspension system. 
     
     
       7. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tuned vibration isolator is at least one of an elastomer material, a foam material, a cork material, a spring, and a dashpot. 
     
     
       8. The audio system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a transportable housing sized to fit in a clothing pocket. 
     
     
       9. An audio system comprising:
 a housing; 
 an acoustic transducer positioned within an aperture of the housing, the acoustic transducer being configured to deliver acoustic energy based on a received audio signal, the acoustic transducer including:
 a diaphragm, 
 a motor structure coupled to the diaphragm and configured to displace the diaphragm to deliver acoustic energy, and 
 a frame positioned to support at least the motor structure and the diaphragm; and 
 
 at least one tuned vibration isolator positioned proximate the acoustic transducer and configured to substantially reduce a magnitude of a vibration, wherein the tuned vibration isolator is defined by an isolator stiffness, and wherein the isolator stiffness is defined according to: 
 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   k 
                   i 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     m 
                     m 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           k 
                           air 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           k 
                           s 
                         
                       
                       
                         m 
                         d 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         wherein, k i  includes the isolator stiffness, m m  includes a mass of the motor structure, k air  includes an air stiffness within the housing, k s  includes a stiffness of an acoustic transducer suspension, and m d  includes a mass of the diaphragm. 
       
     
     
       10. The audio system according to  claim 9 , wherein in being positioned proximate the acoustic transducer, the at least one tuned vibration isolator is interposed between the motor structure and the frame so as to suspend the motor structure and the diaphragm relative to the frame. 
     
     
       11. The audio system according to  claim 9 , wherein the tuned vibration isolator is at least one of an elastomer material, a foam material, a cork material, a spring, and a dashpot. 
     
     
       12. The audio system according to  claim 9 , wherein the housing is a transportable housing sized to fit in a clothing pocket. 
     
     
       13. An acoustic transducer comprising:
 a diaphragm; 
 a motor structure coupled to the diaphragm and configured to displace the diaphragm to deliver acoustic energy based on a received audio signal; 
 a frame positioned to support at least the motor structure and the diaphragm, wherein the frame is sized to position the acoustic transducer within an aperture of a housing; and 
 at least one tuned vibration isolator coupled to the frame and configured to substantially reduce a magnitude of a vibration, wherein the tuned vibration isolator defined by an isolator stiffness, and wherein the isolator stiffness is based at least in part on a mass of the diaphragm, a mass of the frame, and an air stiffness within the housing. 
 
     
     
       14. The acoustic transducer according to  claim 13 , wherein the isolator stiffness is defined according to: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   k 
                   i 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     m 
                     b 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         k 
                         air 
                       
                       
                         m 
                         d 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         wherein, k i  includes the isolator stiffness, m b  includes the mass of the frame, k air  includes the air stiffness, and m d  includes the mass of the diaphragm. 
       
     
     
       15. The acoustic transducer according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one tuned vibration isolator includes a single tuned vibration isolator disposed continuously along a perimeter of the frame. 
     
     
       16. The acoustic transducer according to  claim 13 , wherein the tuned vibration isolator is at least one of an elastomer material, a foam material, a cork material, a spring, a dashpot, and an air suspension system. 
     
     
       17. An acoustic transducer comprising:
 a diaphragm; 
 a motor structure coupled to the diaphragm and configured to displace the diaphragm to deliver acoustic energy based on a received audio signal; 
 a frame positioned to support at least the motor structure and the diaphragm; and 
 at least one tuned vibration isolator coupled to the frame and configured to substantially reduce a magnitude of a vibration, the tuned vibration isolator being defined by an isolator stiffness, wherein the frame is sized to position the acoustic transducer within an aperture of a housing, and wherein the isolator stiffness is defined according to: 
 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   k 
                   i 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     m 
                     m 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           k 
                           air 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           k 
                           s 
                         
                       
                       
                         m 
                         d 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         wherein, k i  includes the isolator stiffness, m m  includes a mass of the motor structure, k air  includes an air stiffness within the housing, k s  includes a stiffness of an acoustic transducer suspension, and m d  includes a mass of the diaphragm. 
       
     
     
       18. The acoustic transducer according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one tuned vibration isolator is interposed between the motor structure and the frame so as to suspend the motor structure and the diaphragm relative to the frame. 
     
     
       19. The acoustic transducer according to  claim 17 , wherein the tuned vibration isolator is at least one of an elastomer material, a foam material, a cork material, a spring, a dashpot, and an air suspension system. 
     
     
       20. An audio system comprising:
 an acoustic transducer configured to deliver acoustic energy, the acoustic transducer including:
 a diaphragm, 
 a motor structure coupled to the diaphragm and configured to displace the diaphragm to deliver acoustic energy, and 
 a frame positioned to support at least the motor structure and the diaphragm; and 
 
 a transportable housing, the delivery of acoustic energy causing a vibration of at least the transportable housing, the transportable housing including:
 at least one aperture in a surface of the housing, the aperture sized to receive the acoustic transducer; and 
 at least one tuned vibration isolator coupled between the transportable housing and the acoustic transducer and configured to substantially reduce a magnitude of the vibration of the transportable housing for a range of operable frequencies of the acoustic transducer, wherein the vibration isolator is defined by an isolator stiffness and the isolator stiffness is defined according to: 
 
 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   k 
                   i 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     m 
                     b 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         k 
                         air 
                       
                       
                         m 
                         d 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         wherein k i  includes the isolator stiffness, m b  includes a mass of the frame, k air  includes an air stiffness within the transportable housing, and m d  includes a mass of the diaphragm. 
       
     
     
       21. The audio system according to  claim 20 , wherein the tuned vibration isolator is at least one of an elastomer material, a foam material, a cork material, a spring, a dashpot, and an air suspension system. 
     
     
       22. An audio system comprising:
 an acoustic transducer configured to deliver acoustic energy, the acoustic transducer including:
 a diaphragm, 
 a motor structure coupled to the diaphragm and configured to displace the diaphragm to deliver acoustic energy, and 
 a frame positioned to support at least the motor structure and the diaphragm; and 
 
 a transportable housing, the delivery of acoustic energy causing a vibration of at least the transportable housing, the transportable housing including:
 at least one aperture in a surface of the housing, the aperture sized to receive the acoustic transducer; and 
 at least one tuned vibration isolator coupled between the transportable housing and the acoustic transducer and configured to substantially reduce a magnitude of the vibration of the transportable housing for a range of operable frequencies of the acoustic transducer, wherein the tuned vibration isolator is defined by an isolator stiffness and the isolator stiffness is defined according to: 
 
 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   k 
                   i 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     m 
                     m 
                   
                   ⁡ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         
                           k 
                           air 
                         
                         + 
                         
                           k 
                           s 
                         
                       
                       
                         m 
                         d 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         wherein, k i  includes the isolator stiffness, m m  includes a mass of the motor structure, k air  includes an air stiffness within the transportable housing, k s  includes a stiffness of an acoustic transducer suspension, and m d  includes a mass of the diaphragm. 
       
     
     
       23. The audio system according to  claim 22 , wherein the tuned vibration isolator is at least one of an elastomer material, a foam material, a cork material, a spring, a dashpot, and an air suspension system.